This is for those who have not used the FS-GS service...


I decided to give FS-GS a whirl. My visual quality and performance was what I considered higher than satisfactory and to tell you the truth I was a bit sceptical and did not think I could do much better with FS9. It was not my goal to make a challenge to Michael, just see how his service may increase my experience. In any case Michael Greenblatt @ FS-GS proved I could do better with FS9.

Even with an electrical engineering background, I shut-up, listened and learned.

I am not going to give away any settings because EVERY SYSTEM is different so please do not PM me for information. I will however relay information which may help anyone who reads this understand how the service is not only beneficial to just about any level of computer tech, gamer or novice but to just about any level of system hardware.

Even though prior to his service I had made many of the OS and FS9 setup changes his service suggests, by the end of the session my FS9 performance increased 20% right out of the gate with 100% FS9 sliders and checkboxes enabled and my graphics card set to 100% quality…

That is a heck of an increase for a software title known for crushing CPU and GPU cycles.

In checking the effect the service had on other graphics applications, I found in 3DMark, (6xAA, 16xAF enabled), a consistant 300-500pt increase had resulted. That may not seem like much however the 300-500pt gain came from the OS resource to CPU/Memory performance of the benchmark, meaning, my system was now placing critical resources into FS9 I was not getting (at all) prior to the FS-GS service. That translates into CPU cycles which FS9 now has better access to and uses.

As I had always known, many of the WindowsXP reg hacks, FS9.cfg file and other tweaks posted around the net are really complete trash. There are minimal reg hacks and WindowsXP changes which Michael will walk you through setting up. Changes to the FS9.cfg file are based on YOUR system and YOUR video adapter which Michael spent years in development of establishing correct settings based on individual systems, hardware and add-ons. You will learn the REAL meaning of the important numbers in the FS9.cfg file and their relationship/ how they affect each other when changed.

A popular add-on which is typically installed and forgotten about is FSUIPC. It should not be ignored. With Michaels service you have the opportunity to learn about FSUIPC settings which can further enhance your experience without killing resources.

If Michael suggests to get rid of an add-on OR suggests you acquire an add-on, don't question, just DO IT. Michael does not own any financial stake in making add-on suggestions. Michael knows what works and what doesn’t, period.

You will learn about add-ons and how many developers (even the most expensive add-on planes and scenery) are clueless as to how to properly design textures for Flight Simulator. Learning what to watch out for when installing add-ons and what to do to correct textures yourself can convert aircraft and scenery which bring FS9 to its knees, into smooth running software with minimal FS9 performance hits.

You will learn about FS9 calibration… You heard right, there is a method of calibrating FS9 so the system is correctly balanced for the load FS9 applies to it. You will find no reference to FS9 calibration methods from anyone but a Microsoft graphics consultant.

In the follow up sessions the initial 20% gain was further increased. Usually I fly real world weather with 100% 3D clouds maxed out. During heavy cloud cover and overcast conditions the drain on the sim is enormous. I am sure you have heard about using reduced size freeware cloud textures and I have my own version of clouds which help but I never, ever expected to see and experience 100% cloud and weather conditions with realistic multilayer cloud FX and almost NO hit on the system. In calculating the load change, Michaels follow up settings and suggestions added a 40% gain to my FS9 performance.

I learned how freeware cloud fixes and even my own were actually causing more problems than they had solved. Amazing...

As I have always known, frame rate watching while the sim is running is not important. Whats important is smooth frames, not the number being displayed during flight. The only time frame rate counts are important is during calibration, otherwise the counter means practically nothing and actually causes a loss of 3 real frames when it is active on the screen.

Michael tests for ATI and Nvidia has connections to Microsoft itself. That experience alone is worth twice the service fee. Try and get a personal appointment with an ATI, Nvidia or Microsoft graphics engineer and see how far you get. If you manage to get an appointment, you won’t get hours of personalized services. Technical support in such cases would cost anywhere from $50 to $100USD + per hour and they WILL charge you even if their advice does not help, Michael doesn't.


Do the math… then do the FS-GS service. http://www.fs-gs.com/

Btw did you get

Interactive level I
OR
Interactive level II

would you say this service is usefull for someone like me who is using litestep with a homemade theme and has good knowlage of what fs9.cfg tweeks do and what the registry does?  is he rearly rearly good is basicly what i'm asking

The above tweek has been made publicly available before, though I won't dispel it's source ATM, indeed if I can even find it again...... but, as you say NickN, that's just one of many improvements FSGS can help with.

I haven't used the service, due more to financial constraints than anything else, I've always been curious however, and I was sceptical at first, but after reading MANY posts by satisfied customers over the years, and considering his guarantee, it looks great.

Quote:


Not so much anti overclock ........... you won't need to overclock after the service 

Quote:



I'm not giving anything away

But:

1.
Including the number zero, there are only 3 possible numbers that FS9 will recognize in that line. If any other number is used FS9 will default to zero automatically. In example, a popular myth value of: 1242456 will be ignored by the sim and default that line to zero. If a system is out of balance with FS9, a value of zero can make scenery appear visually sharper however that is nothing more than a placebo visual which robs the system from one end to give to another.

2.
Unlike other numbers in the FS9.cfg file, the number used as the setting in that line should never be followed by a decimal or any zeros.

3.
That number can NOT be a fractal value

4.
You must have the correct types of scenery mesh installed to set that line to its maximum value or both visual anomalies and performance stutter issues will occur.

What I posted does not give away anything but I do believe it shows allot of what is posted on the net is hogwash.

Micheal dispells the myths so you QUIT TWEAKING and enjoy flying. When the sim does act up you know from your education through Michael how to deal with it, track down the culprit and fix the problem which is usually a third party aircraft or scenery package.


The visual realisim is quite impressive. My gauged performance increased approximately 40% but my visuals and the entire experience has had a 100% boost. I thought my sim was smooth before... I did not realize what smooth flying really meant!


60 euros (73 USD) was well worth the money.

I could have dropped major cash on hardware and never achieved the same visual results. Because of FS-GS, when I do drop that cash, the purchases I make have become worth the investment and Michael's service increases their value to me as well.

When I do upgrade the next purchase will more than likely be an FX60 processor. As a matter of fact I will probably order that processor in a month or two in anticipation of a complete system upgrade to PCI-E by the end of the year. Michael confirmed my professional experience that pure horsepower always wins, especially with flight simulator.

 

Quote:



I'm not sure if he will be FSX ready or not. If not I am sure it will not take him long to prepare with the experience he has with graphics. Michael is no just a Flight sim consultant. He consults on real world graphics and server systems.

I need an FS-GS treatment..

Quote:



not true....



Dave has an OC'ed 6800

Quote:


Yes, but Michael does not set up and test your system while it is overclocked. He requests that the system be returned to its normal state for the hardware you are using. He also suggests/confirms BIOS settings. He sets Windows up and has you run the sim to his specifications and asks questions that tell him if something is wrong or not. If a system is overclocked while Michael is evaluating the tests, it would not tell him what he needs to know, therefore Michael does not work with an overclocked system. What one does do with their system after the service is up to them. 

Quote:


Buff, my GeForce 6800 is "overclocked" out of the box  
Quote:

Above taken from http://www.bfgtech.com/6800GTOC.html

Dave

Quote:



I can not vouch for what Michael can do for you... With your system he may suggest hardware upgrades but if that is not possible I would think he could help boost your expereince with what you have. His service also boosts your entire computer, not just FS9.

The payware PMDG 747 Southwest image comes from the FlyTampa payware airport San Francisco, Flight1 UT USA and Ground Environment textures, Flight Environment clouds and FSgenesis mesh and with my own personal water textures. Those packages along with my hardware and FS-GS service is what makes that image what it is.

Even with the service if you are not willing to spend money on the RIGHT add-ons your visuals will not look like that image although what you see even without those add-on installed should be much better and smoother.

Quote:

I understand, and appreciate, your loyalty in not wanting to take the business away to the person who did you a good service. This is right.
But what are these two other values that FS2004 will accept, setting "0" aside?
Surely there's much more to FS-GS than this information, so you will not rip anyone off if you give this hint away.  
EDIT:
Also, and on second thought, other questions arise:
1) Every graphic engine is different. If I tweak my system for FS9, couldn't this possibly cause problems in other games? For example, I mainly play only two titles: FS9 and the venerable (but still great) Grand Prix Legends. I have found that certain driver tweaks that make FS9 smoother in turn cause problems in GPL.
2) By now, I have made up my mind about whose pictures are my favourite in this forum (Freeware and payware snapshots sections). I'd be curious to know if any of these users were FS-GS customers. So, FS-GS junkies, out of the closet, declare yourself! 

Understood. 
Let me just (partly) disagree with you on the "proprietary information" bit. What do you mean by that? If you mean the information is proprietary to Microsoft (i.e. it's considered "industrial secret", like the infamous Windows APIs) then FS-GS would be violating it in the first place.
If on the other hand you mean - as I'm sure - that you had to or you voluntarily agreed to not disclose any detail about what you learned from FS-GS during the calibration process (which, I understand, lasts several hours and requires interaction between FS-GS and the user, meaning that FS-GS instruct the user to make changes with a brief explanation of the reason why, and the user executes them) then it's a different matter. Then those informations are not - strictly speaking - proprietary (to FS-GS), but rather they are the result of hard research work by FS-GS and so it's in FS-GS's interest that they remain confidential.
At this point let me ask you: was the "non disclosure policy" part of the contractual conditions, or did you voluntarily chose to agree to that? In the latter case, what would happen if a user didn't agree to that condition and, after being FS-GS'ed, publicly disclosed all the details on the web?
That said, once again I think that you are right in not wanting to step in FS-GS toes since it's obvious that they rock, but then again, surely there's much more to FS-GS than just the bare explanation of what the allowed values for a certain fs9.cfg parameter are. If revealing this simple information could spoil the business, then one would think that it's not that big deal, and we both know well that this isn't the case, right? 
Let me know; as for FS-GS, I'll seriously consider it, but first I'll try all I'm capable of to better my FS9 world... it's a matter of pride, you see. 

"To be quite honest, if you were to approach FS-GS with the attitude you tend to display in the post above, I doubt they would accept you as a client. I think it is a "big deal" to make a trust and break it by disclosing infomation even if the information is minute and would probably have no finacial impact, it's still breaking an agreement and more important, my word."
That's precisely why I asked you - out of interest and curiosity - if you actually gave your word about it. It's completely obvious that, if you did, you would be bound to keep it.
I think you misunderstood my last sentence: I said that *if* revealing the possible values for a single parameter would alone take business away from FSGS then one would think that calibrating FS9 is not that big deal. A paradox, because everybody knows that of course it *IS* a big deal... that's why I thought that revealing it would not damage FSGS because there are so many other tweakings to do that require extensive knowledge.
But you explained that you are bound to an agreement, no matter how tiny the information you are asked to reveal is; I respect this and will ask you no more.  

Now that we have wiped the slate clean, if there is someone here who is *not* a FS-GS customer and has figured out on his/her own what those values are, feel free to post them.  
Also and on the other end, if some FS-GS user has some before/after screenies to share, to help see the difference, it'd be great.  

Quote:


Simple... I know hardware and currently own what would be considered a high end system. It’s not in SLI mode but SLI cannot be used with FS9 anyway.....

Its not about frame rates, it's about the visuals... how real they look and how smooth the simulation runs.

Even with a system running 300FSB on a 512mb 7900GTX my sim would NEVER look as good as it does OR work as smooth without the information I learned from FS-GS, it's that simple.

And NO, you WONT buy a GPU for 75 dollars on eBay and duplicate those results.

Lets take it a step further... what you are buying is a professional consultation with someone that will teach you how to set up your computer system for graphics performance -and- FS9 for the maximum experience your hardware will allow. Hardware upgrades are recommended by FS-GS if Michael thinks you would be better off spending money on hardware before the service. Your contracting a professional who has tested just about every video card and processor combination there is along with add-ons that enhance the sim... and knows for a fact what works and what doesn’t.

I would rather drop 70 bucks on the education. That way whatever I spend on hardware is a much better investment. 

If you know how to look and are patient enough you can Get a good Graphics card for 70 USD.... But I just dont understand, How can something with an engine already in it and out for 2 years any bit better? I might be daft, but for some reason this doesnt register with me too well,  a good overclock, some decent cooling and a Medium Range computer with a few upgrades does it well enough from what I can tell. Cheers, The Daft Gunny

Quote:


For what you will pay for cooling a new graphics card extra memory and then shortening the life of the afore mentioned by overclocking....... you may as well pay for FS-GS and save the extra cash that the other option will cost to buy some decent addons for your sim.

Quote:


Screenshots do not show the full benefits of FS-GS as they are static. However your wish is my command.

Before ...... note the ground textures are blurred right across the shot.


After.....  a similar shot note the clear ground textures right across the shot.


Ask yourself this ...... can you increase your view distance to infinity without the textures becomming blurred and flickering? Can you pan round your aircraft, in spot view, and have a completely smooth and clear picture as you do? If the answer is no then you would benefit from FSGS. However they are not the only things that improve. Instead of knocking it try it ..... you have absolutely NOTHING to loose, you either get a smooth running sim/computer or you don't pay. That is how confident Michael is about his service.

Here's the challenge ...... lets see you post screenshots that are of the same quality as Fly2e's. Without using FS-GS there's only one person on these forums who I think comes close.

The improvement was purely through FS-GS.

Quote:


FS-GS ...... is Ramsa329's  baby so you would expect his screenies to be a shining example. 

I am about to upgrade / build a new system so will not pay for FS-GS yet but...  I did go to the website and download the free tweak.  I could average 20 maybe 23 on a nice day but would drop to 3 - 4 fps when hitting with FRAPS.  After using this tweak and omega drivers I was seeing 40fps, I actually got 20 at one point with FRAPS recording  . and for the first time ever was able to have graphics maxed , go into spot mode and just spin around the plane with out freezing and with smoth lines. 

Also the ground scenery has vastly improved as has the clouds.

For me I am sold, can't wait to get mine tweaked by Michael.

Bit confused, I just read that aparently FS doesn't support sli??? was going to build new system around FS using sli    Can anyone explain why this cannot be done?

Trying to find the link for omega drivers as they do Nvidia aswell as ATI but have lost it, will post when I find it.

Can't find the link here on FS, as I read about them here, but here is the website... http://www.omegadrivers.net/

Sorry completely forgot to put the link in 
http://www.fs-gs.com/downloads.htm

Took a while to figure out but it shuts down progs before FS starts and re-activates them after so that FS has more CPU resourses.

I think thats a very basic description but it does do more.

Quote:


FSautostart is a well known program. Although I did use it during my FS-GS service, I do not use it now. (in my opinion) It is designed for older systems that do not run 2GB+ of memory and are not considered high end systems. It is NOT designed to shut down services 100% correctly but it will release memory and CPU cycles on systems that cannot handle all the background activity and the 3D application at the same time. The only thing I use FSautostart for now is a diagnostic tool if I think someting in the background is causing trouble.

If omega drivers work for you, use them... I do not use them and when I have tested them in the past I found my image quality was reduced in order to increase frames, which I do not like. I also found no true performance gain over the factory drivers.

FS-GS will not tweak a system on anything but factory drivers.